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Juvenile Justice Facilities Planning: An Interactive Process

NCJ Number
161351
Author(s)
M J McMillen
Date Published
Unknown
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This report explains the nature of interactive planning for the building of juvenile justice facilities, which involves participation by all user and consumer groups with a vested interest in the facility.
Abstract
Facilities planning is a phased process whereby problems and needs are identified, goals and objectives (purposes of the facility) are established, and methods for achieving the stated objectives are examined and adopted for implementation. During each phase, numerous issues must be considered and decisions made, so that eventual success is realized in the final design. The participatory planning concept holds that correct and well- founded decisions at each level can only be made regarding juvenile facilities through extensive cooperation and interaction between all individuals and organizations concerned about future facility operations; these include facility staff, administrative and management staff, funding and monitoring agencies, service providers, court and legal agencies, citizen interest groups, and other knowledgeable professionals with experience in the proposed operations. Direct input is sought from each of these participants regarding the major issues to be addressed and developmental approaches to be considered, so that planning and design is responsive to all concerns. This report describes tools and procedures that can be used to obtain participant input during all planning phases. Also outlined are the tasks to be performed in each of the four phases of juvenile justice facility planning: project organization, needs assessment, the establishment of comprehensive developmental policy (plan), and plan implementation.